French protesters adopt slogan mocking police stereotyping

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 17:20 · Archive

Students in France have adopted the phrase 'Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres' as a rallying cry during widespread protests.

Students protesting in France have adopted the slogan 'Bismillah, c'est les ténèbres' as a rallying cry during some of the country's largest demonstrations in recent memory. The phrase, mixing Arabic and French to mean 'In the name of God, it's the darkness', originated in an early October Snapchat message from a user named Mamadou. In the post, Mamadou requested to be added to a student group with the message: 'Hi, in the name of God, it's the darkness. When's the blockade, wallah, bro?' The message featured Algerian flag emojis.

Students believe the post was sent by an undercover police officer attempting to infiltrate their private protest coordination groups. Al Jazeera reports that the slogan represents a mockery of police conduct and racial stereotyping. A Paris high school student told the New York Times the message is seen as 'an example of racism because it implies that the people who are going to vandalize property are Arab'.

The protests have brought together students and groups opposing rising costs of living. Grievances underlying the movement include overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, systemic inequality and lack of opportunity. Organisers claim 800,000 people took to the streets last weekend, with more demonstrations planned. France's police inspectorate has opened dozens of investigations into alleged police violence since protests began.

How it is being reported

• ‘Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres’: What does the French protests slogan mean?The slogan, featuring a mixture of Arabic and French, has appeared on signs across France as young people protest - but it’s origins are murkyIndependent World · 21 Oct, 16:59
• Why are French protesters chanting ‘Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres’?The slogan has come to represent a whole array of grievances that lie at the heart of the protest movement.Al Jazeera · 21 Oct, 11:35

In this story: France · Mamadou · Phèdre Quémener · IGPN

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem